From gross to take-home
Your gross salary is never what you take home. First, PAYE applies on a sliding scale from 18% to 45%, less the age-based tax rebate (the primary rebate is R17,820 for 2026/27). Then UIF takes 1%, charged only on the first R17,712 a month. Many people also pay into a retirement fund.
Retirement contributions are deductible up to 27.5% of pay (capped at R430,000 a year), so they lower your tax bill while building your nest egg.
Good to know
This excludes medical-aid tax credits and other deductions. Those would reduce your PAYE further, so treat the result as a close estimate.
Common questions
PAYE (income tax), UIF, and optionally a retirement-fund contribution. The result is what actually lands in your bank account.
No. Medical scheme tax credits and other rebates would lower your PAYE further, so your real take-home may be slightly higher.
Contributions are deducted before tax (up to 27.5% of pay), so they reduce your taxable income — lowering PAYE while building your retirement savings.